Welcome back to our Stanley Cup Playoff Power Rankings. In addition to my top 4 rankings, I provide in-depth analysis and feature a weekly player to watch profile to help fans now who to keep on eye on during the conference finals. Seven new players appear in the top five below, and you’ll be surprised who is number one.

Site expert Matt Duscharme will be covering all 4 teams.

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*all stats in this week’s NHL Playoff Power Rankings are heading into Friday (May.12th) night’s action.

May 9, 2017; New York, NY, USA; The Ottawa Senators celebrate after defeating the New York Rangers in game six of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Now how about them Sens? The depth acquisitions of Viktor Stalberg, Alexandre Burrows, Tommy Wingels, and Jyrki Jokipakka has paid dividends. They beat out a Boston team who sat number one on the penalty kill. And then the New York Rangers who had a goalie that litterally stood on his head just to win games for the team.

Above all of this brilliance sits Erik Karlsson who leads the team in points with 13 in 12 games, 11 of which are assists. Both Bobby Ryan and Derick Brassard are tied for second with nine points a piece, however, they are a combined minus six. Another player who is having a brilliant post-season is Jean-Gabriel Pageau who has seven points, all of which are goals.

This next series against Pittsburgh is going to be extremely tough, but all great players arise in tough times. And Karlsson will do just that, he’ll most likely lead the team in series scoring again. And if somehow the Sens can beat out the Pens, he’ll definitely be in talks for the Conn Smythe.

May 10, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Nick Ritchie (37) and the Ducks celebrate the 2-1 victory and series win against the Edmonton Oilers following game seven of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Anaheim swept the Flames in four games, but were given an outstanding series at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers who pushed them to seven games. A lot of people didn’t take the Ducks serious but they have the components to win and they have done that.

John Gibson has been solid but he can definitely step up play, his 2.80 goals-against-average and his .908 save percentage can definitely be better. But the team’s defense needs to help out some more in that area. Rookie defenseman Shea Theodore has been solid all postseason as well surprising most putting up seven points in 11 games. Ryan Getzlaf has been on fire as well doing more than a point per game with 15 in 11. Corey Perry also had himself a decent week last week putting up five points in three games.

Jakob Silfverberg has been awesome too coming through in the clutch when need be. And in doing so has notched seven goals in 11 games, being on the first line with Getzlaf and Nick Ritchie has been super beneficial to the team.

Pittsburgh is defeintely a top contender for the cup and has a solid chance to repeat, Crosby has taken more of a backseat role which has allowed both Evgeni Malkin and rookie Jake Guentzel take care of team scoring. But when a clutch goal has been needed or play, Crosby has been behind it.

Marc-Andre Fleury has gotten a second wind so to speak after Matthew Murray got injured Fleury was given the nod and has been great showing us all that he’s capable of. He’s posted a 2.55 goals-against-average and a .927 save percentage, both of which are good but could still be lower. Justin Schultz has thrived big time on an offensive minded team and so far this post season he leads the defense in scoring with eight points.

May 7, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators players celebrate on the bench in the closing seconds of a 3-1 win against the St. Louis Blues in game six of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Nashville has been great all post season, they beat a team that was deemed much better in Minnesota and than the sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks showed us all that this team is actually a contender. Pekka Rinne has been great all year and is now the backbone for the team in the playoffs. So far throughout eight games Rinne has posted a 1.37 goals-against-average and a .951 save percentage.

Scoring has been great as well, both Ryan Johansen and Ryan Ellis lead the team with nine points in 10 games a piece. Roman Josi has posted eight points so far as well as Filip Forsberg. The thing with Forsberg though is despite being rather low on the scoresheet, he possesses the best plus/minus of the whole team at plus 11.

Ryan Ellis has been great he’s been clutch, especially on the power play putting up four goals and five assists. His goal output is tied with Roman Josi for the team lead. If he’s given time and space in this series he’s definitely going to score some more goals.